Ark in the Park

Lying just 30 minutes' drive from central Auckland, the Waitakere Ranges hold some of our most treasured and imperilled species.

Once upon a time, this ancient kauri forest was home to kiwi, native falcons, long-tailed cuckoos, bellbirds, kakariki, short-tailed bats and many reptiles and invertebrates.

However, predation by pests has caused these creatures to disappear in the past 100 years.

Ark in the Park is a partnership between Forest & Bird and Auckland Council, supported by te Kawerau a Maki. Its aim is to create an open sanctuary in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, and return many of the species that once were found in this area.

Kids get up close to a North island robin - one of several birds that have been transferred into the Ark in the past decade, Photo: Nicholas Mayne.

We undertake weed and pest control and have reintroduced native species including North Island robins, kokako and whiteheads.

In 2015 we are working on further translocations of both kokako and whiteheads.

How to get there

Ark in the Park lies 30 minutes' drive from central Auckland. For driving directions see here

Volunteer

If you wish to become a volunteer for Ark in the Park, there are a variety of activities that you can take part in such as pest control, native bird monitoring, watching and protecting kokako nests and helping out with bird releases.

Volunteer sessions are held twice a week on Thursdays and during the weekend. Weekend sessions are held on the first three Saturdays of each month and on the fourth Sunday.